title art of Star Wars Digital Movie Collection featuring Darth Vader

May the Force Be With You—Anywhere!— And More in News Briefs

The Star Wars Saga in Digital HD is a Most Wonderful Disturbance in the Force!

Devoted Star Wars fans heed all of Master Yoda’s words. And when he says, “Size matters not,” he’s absolutely right—especially when it comes to the screen on which you can enjoy any of the six films of the Star Wars Saga. With the release of The Star Wars Digital Movie Collection this Friday, April 10, fans will now be able to enjoy the iconic films on their widescreen TV at home, on their laptop at their favorite cantina, or even on their smartphone waiting in line to go on Star Tours at Disneyland. The Force can now be with you everywhere you go.

This marks the first time the original six films have been made available on Digital HD, and the collection is packed with a host of never-before-seen special features, including Star Wars: Discoveries from Inside and Conversations between key contributors from across this celebrated film franchise. The films are available as a collection or as individual purchases, and each digital film features its own Star Wars Extras.

The next chapter in the Star Wars Saga, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, opens in theaters December 18. This new release presents the perfect opportunity to re-live the experience of seeing the first six films before you first see The Force Awakens on the big screen.

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Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
Fall 2014-2015
D23 Member Nights at Newsies—On Tour
April 18
Waking Up with Sleeping Beauty
April 25
D23 Day at Walt Disney Studios and Archives

May 9
The Parent Trap Party at Camp Inch

May 29
VIP Studio Tour with Disney Legend Dave Smith

June 20
D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives

August 14-16
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California

Studios
April 17
Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom opens in theaters.
May 1
Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters.
May 22
Tomorrowland opens in theaters.
June 19
Inside Out opens in theaters (along with the short Lava).
July 17
Ant Man opens in theaters.
December 18, 2015
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
Parks
March 4–May 17
22nd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival.
May 15–June 14
Star Wars Weekends Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
May 22–23
24-hour event kicking off Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration at Disneyland Resort
May 22–23
24-hour event kicking off “Coolest Summer Ever” at Walt Disney World Resort
September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
photo of smiling family huddled together with Mickey Mouse costumed character wearing santa clause fur-lined coat and cap
Tickets for Special Events at Magic Kingdom Now On Sale

We’ve had you saving the date for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but starting today you can mark that date on your calendar in ink. Tickets for both events are now on sale, along with tickets for Disney’s Night of Joy (September 11–12). Tickets for these special events have been known to sell out, so be sure to buy your tickets early! For more details and pricing information, visit the Disney Parks Blog.

photo of line of resort bungalows surrounded by water built on pylons
Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Now Open at Walt Disney World

It was no April Fool when Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows opened on April 1. The new Disney Vacation Club resort offers 360 Deluxe Studio accommodations (opening in phases through the summer) and 20 over-the-water Bungalows to bring the spirit of the South Pacific to Disney fans. Our friends from the Disney Parks Blog shared this video from the grand opening event—it definitely has us dreaming of the Seven Seas (Lagoon)!

Watch a New Featurette for Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron

Ever think it would be fun to be an Avenger? Well, this latest featurette for Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron takes you behind the scenes with director Joss Whedon and the cast and pretty much confirms that Robert Downey Jr. and his fellow actors have some of the best jobs ever. Even when things get perilous on screen—and the previous trailers for the film have us believing that things are going to get very perilous in Avengers: Age of Ultron—it’s great to see that the actors are having as much fun with this franchise as we are. Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters on Friday, May 1.

still from DuckTales cartoon featuring Scrooge McDuck
Woo-hoo! Everything DuckTales Is New Again

If you were a fan of DuckTales back in the day—and who wasn’t?—you might also have spent a fair amount of time playing the 8-bit DuckTales video game. You can now relive those days—or should we say “remaster” with the news that Disney Interactive has released DuckTales: Remastered for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. DuckTales: Remastered lets players join Scrooge McDuck in an epic adventure across the world to discover the five Legendary Treasures. Players will embark on a journey to the Himalayas, Amazon, Transylvania, African mines, and the Moon using Scrooge’s secret map. The evil sorceress Magica De Spell and notorious Beagle Boys are on a quest to steal Scrooge’s fortune, which he may have to risk along the way to save his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. DuckTales: Remastered is now available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone, and Windows Store. Woo-hoo!

illustration of a full stage production set in a village with a dancing woman and a white horse surrounded by villagers beneath bright colored streamers from Tangled: The Musical
When Will My Disney Cruise Begin?

We were so excited to share the news last week that Disney Cruise Line is premiering Tangled: The Musical on board the Disney Magic beginning this November. This marks the first time that Tangled, the beloved film from Walt Disney Animation Studios has been adapted for the stage. The brand-new stage show will feature groundbreaking puppetry, dazzling sets and costumes, and three new songs from Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken and Grammy®-winning lyricist Glenn Slater that have been created for Tangled: The Musical, in addition to favorite songs from the film like “I See the Light” and “When Will My Life Begin.”

movie still featuring Captain America and Thor
Go the Marvel-ous Distance!

Marvel fans are going to assemble en masse for the opening of Avengers: Age of Ultron. But extra-dedicated fans can assemble at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on April 20 and at select theaters around the country on April 29 for The Ultimate Marvel Marathon. This 29-hour engagement, announced by Chris Hardwick at the Nerdist Panel at WonderCon Anaheim, will showcase all 11 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, culminating with Avengers: Age of Ultron. “In 1990, Kevin Feige and I were both at an all-day Back to the Future trilogy screening where they showed films one and two and then premiered part three for fans die hard enough to wait in line for MANY HOURS, which we were. After exchanging e-mails with Kevin, we agreed that it was time to do this with the Marvel films,” said Chris Hardwick. “This Ultimate Marvel Marathon will be an experience that Marvel super fans will remember for the rest of their lives, just as we did with Back to the Future. And getting to see Ultron first? What true Nerd doesn’t love to see a movie before anyone else? Marvel fans, ASSEMBLE!”

illustration of toy Mickey Mouse-themed drag racing car and cartoon Mickey Mouse in a driving helmet
Mickey Mouse Revving Up for Mickey and the Roadster Races

Mickey and his friends are getti­ng their motors running in a new action-packed animated series for preschoolers. Disney Junior announced that Mickey and the Roadster Races will debut in 2017 on Disney Junior, and will feature Mickey and his pals—Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Daisy, and Donald—and their uniquely personalized vehicles (check out Mickey’s in the image above!) on humorous high-spirited races around the globe plus hometown capers in Hot Dog Hills. The production team is made up of Emmy®-nominated talent from hit Disney Junior series Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, including executive producer Rob LaDuca, co-executive producer and supervising story editor Mark Seidenberg, and story editor Thomas Hart.